THE CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
SITUATION REPORT: CUBAN HURRICANES
October 2, 2002


SITUATION: With U.S. costal residents preparing for Hurricane Lili, Cuba
began Tuesday assessing the storm's damage. With winds of nearly 100 mph,
the storm reportedly did not cause any casualties in Cuba, though it did
force the evacuation of some 130,000 persons. Assessments from the damage
were continuing, just as the island nation began cleaning up from last
week's Tropical Storm Isidore.


RESPONSE: CWS is responding to Isidore and Lili through the Cuban Council
of Churches, a long-time CWS partner. In the wake of Isidore, the
council's emergency committee has been conducting assessments,
particularly in Pinar del Rio, the western province most affected by that
storm. In the municipality of Juan and Martinez, population 151,126, some
80 percent of families were affected, particularly with damaged housing,
as most houses are made of wood. Crops - including corn, rice and bananas
- were also destroyed, and basic services, such as electricity and water,
were also damaged. Another municipality, Sandino, was similarly affected,
with damaged housing and crops.

Current needs for both locales include housing reconstruction materials,
food and medicines.

The Cuban Council and CWS are discussing what resources may be required in
Cuba; it is expected that damage from Lili will be similar to that of
Isidore and will have affected much of the same area.

Call the CWS HOTLINE for updates: (800) 297-1516.

For further information about disasters to which Church World Service
is responding, contact CWS Emergency Response.

Telephone: (212) 870-3151
E-mail: donnajderr@aol.com
After-hours emergency pager: (800) 780-0853
Web site: www.cwserp.org



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